The Birthday Party (Postbox Productions)

Venue/Date of Show: BT TT26 Week 3

Content Warnings: Psychological abuse, depictions of mental illness, implied sexual violence.

Deadline: Tuesday 17th of February, 5th Week, 23:59PM

Meg and Petey run a lodging house by the sea, where Stanley resides. He becomes anxious when two mysterious men, Goldberg and McCann, arrive, and Meg decides to throw Stanley a birthday party despite his insistence it's not his birthday. The men subject Stanley to a relentless, surreal interrogation that breaks him psychologically while Lulu, Stanley’s friend, is strung about by them. The next day, Stanley is catatonic and taken away while Petey attempts to stop them.

With a play that leads into absurdism we hope to maintain a strong creative vision, especially in regards to the relationship between change and stagnation. We want to create a foreboding and increasingly terrifying atmosphere as facades break down. As Pinter is a master of silences in a play where many details are unrevealed, we also want to explore the things left unsaid with uncertain pasts.

We are looking for the following roles:

Production Manager: We need someone to help us round out our trio of Producer and Director! We have big plans for this show including a detailed stage, unique funding opportunities and a lot of marketing: if the idea of making this run smoothly excites you then this is for you! No experience required.

Stage Manager: Because of the double slot nature of the BT and our desire for a fairly detailed set with extensive props we want someone who can help us with stage operations. If you want to help us make sure each show runs as smoothly as possible, then you should apply. No experience required.

Marketing Manager: We have a strong vision for a marketing program that toe the line between a cheery face and ominous undertones, and need you to help us execute this. No experience required.

Welfare Officer: A fairly simple role but its important to have someone not involved in the production to ensure everyone’s wellbeing. No experience required.

Set and Costume Designer: The costuming for The Birthday Party should be simple but specific, but we hope for a very detailed set with a lot of props and need your help to turn the BT into Meg and Petey’s boarding house. No experience required.

Sound Designer: The sound design over the course of an hour and half will be fairly simple, but we want to evoke an increasingly terrifying atmosphere through sound design. Some experience preferred

Lighting Designer: Working with the potential of the BT as a black box is important to us, so we want to use a simple yet evocative lighting over the course of the play to reflect Stanley’s mental deterioration. Some experience preferred.

Link to Further Information/Sign Up Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiWyhPgJEPGWNCatYmxfefGQlThwkeiPOjLWE2OPWYTOutUA/viewform?usp=dialog